List of railway lines in Great Britain


This is a list of railway lines in Great Britain that are currently in operation, split by country and region.
There are a limited number of main inter-regional lines, with all but one entering Greater London. The line from London to the Channel Tunnel is the only line designated 'high speed', although the other main routes also operate limited-stop express services.
The bulk of the secondary network is concentrated in London and the surrounding East and South East regions; an area marketed by National Rail as London and the South East. The majority of these lines are radial to London. There is a further concentration of routes around Birmingham in the West Midlands and in the urbanised part of northern England that stretches from Liverpool in the west, via Greater Manchester to Leeds in the east.
Some areas, such as Wales and Scotland, have relatively sparse railway provision. There are local lines throughout all areas of Great Britain with some services designated as community railways.

Main inter-regional lines

England

London

This is a list of routes entirely contained within Greater London.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrified
Acton–Northolt line
1903Londonn/a
Bromley North Line
1878London750 V DC Third rail
Catford Loop Line
1892London750 V DC Third rail
Chessington branch line
1938–1939London750 V DC Third rail
Chingford branch line
1873London25 kV AC OHLE
Crystal Palace line
1856–1858London750 V DC Third rail
Dudding Hill line
1875LondonN/A
East London line1869–2010London750 V DC Third rail
Farringdon–Herne Hill line1863–1866London750 V DC Third rail
Gospel Oak to Barking line1894–1868London25 kV AC OHLE
Greenford branch line
1903LondonN/A
Greenwich line1836London750 V DC Third rail
Mid-Kent line
1857–1882London750 V DC Third rail
Hounslow Loop Line
1850London750 V DC Third rail
South London line1886London750 V DC Third rail
Kingston loop line1863–1869London750 V DC Third rail
North London line
1846–1869London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Northern City Line
1904London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Greenwich Park branch line
1929London750 V DC Third rail
Romford–Upminster line1893London25 kV AC OHLE
West London line
1844London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail

East of England

This is a list of all routes that enter the East of England region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Abbey Line
1858East25 kV AC OHLE
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Bittern Line
1874–1877EastN/A
Braintree branch line
1848East25 kV AC OHLE
Breckland line
1845EastN/A
Cambridge line
1851East25 kV AC OHLE
Crouch Valley line
1889East25 kV AC OHLE
East Suffolk line
1854EastN/A
Ely–Peterborough line1847EastN/A
Felixstowe branch line
1877EastN/A
Fen line
1846East25 kV AC OHLE
Gainsborough line
1865EastN/A
Hertford East branch line
1843East25 kV AC OHLE
Hertford loop line
1871–1924London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Ipswich–Ely line1846–1851EastN/A
Lea Valley lines1840–1891London, East25 kV AC OHLE
London, Tilbury and Southend line
1854–1888London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Marston Vale line
1845East, South EastN/A
Mayflower line
1854East25 kV AC OHLE
Peterborough–Lincoln line1848–1882EastN/A
Shenfield–Southend line1892East25 kV AC OHLE
Sunshine Coast Line
1847–1882East25 kV AC OHLE
Watford DC line
1862–1922London, East750 V DC Third rail
West Anglia Main Line
1840–1990London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Wherry Lines
1844–1882EastN/A

South East

This is a list of all routes that enter the South East England region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Alton line
1852South East750 V DC Third rail
Arun Valley line
1848–1863South East750 V DC Third rail
Ascot–Ash Vale lineSouth East750 V DC Third rail
Ashford to Ramsgate line1846South East750 V DC Third rail
Aylesbury–Princes Risborough line1863South EastN/A
Bexleyheath line
1895London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Brighton main line1839–1941London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Caterham line
1856London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Chatham main line
1858–1926London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Chertsey branch line
1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Cherwell Valley line
1844–1873South EastN/A
Chiltern Main Line
1852–1910South EastN/A
Cotswold Line
1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Dartford Loop Line
1866London, South East750 V DC Third rail
East Coastway line
1846–1871South East750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh–Fareham line1841South East750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh–Romsey line1847South EastN/A
Epsom Downs Branch
1865London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Hampton Court branch line
1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Hastings line
1845–1852South East750 V DC Third rail
Henley branch line
1857South EastN/A
High Speed 1
2003–2007London, South East25 kV AC OHLE
Island Line
1847South East750 V DC Third rail
London–Aylesbury line1868 and 1899London, East630 V DC Fourth rail
Lymington branch line
1858South East750 V DC Third rail
Maidstone line
1874–1884South East750 V DC Third rail
Marlow branch line
1854South EastN/A
Marshlink line
1851South EastN/A
Marston Vale line
1845East, South EastN/A
Medway Valley line
1844–1856South East750 V DC Third rail
New Guildford line
1885South East750 V DC Third rail
North Downs Line
1849South East750 V DC Third rail
North Kent Line
1846–1849London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Oxford–Bicester line1850South EastN/A
Oxted line
1858–1888London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Portsmouth Direct line
1845–1858South East750 V DC Third rail
Reading–Basingstoke line1848South EastN/A
Reading–Taunton line1847–1906South East, South WestN/A
Redhill–Tonbridge line1884South East750 V DC Third rail
Seaford branch line
1864South East750 V DC Third rail
Sheerness line
1860South East750 V DC Third rail
Shepperton branch line
1864–1894London, South East750 V DC Third rail–
Slough–Windsor & Eton line1849South EastN/A
South Eastern main line
1842–1871London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Staines–Windsor line1848–1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Sutton and Mole Valley lines1847–1868London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Tattenham Corner line
1897–1901London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Waterloo–Reading line1846–1856London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Wessex Main Line
1847–1856South East, South WestN/A
West Coastway line
1840–1889South East750 V DC Third rail
West of England line
1854–1860South East, South WestN/A

South West

This is a list of all routes that enter the South West England region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Atlantic Coast Line
1874South WestNA
Avocet Line
1862South WestNA
Bristol–Exeter line1841–1842South WestNA
Cornish Main Line
1867South WestNA
Cotswold Line
1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Exeter–Plymouth line1846–1849South WestNA
Gloucester–Newport line1850South WestNA
Golden Valley line
1845South WestNA
Heart of Wessex Line
1857South WestNA
Looe Valley Line
1860–1901South WestNA
Maritime Line
1863South WestNA
Reading–Taunton line1847–1906South East, South WestN/A
Riviera Line
1846–1859South WestNA
Severn Beach line
1840–1900South WestNA
South Wales Main Line
1850–1903South West, South WalesNA
St Ives Bay Line
1877South WestNA
Tamar Valley Line
1851–1854South WestNA
Wessex Main Line
1847–1856South East, South WestN/A
West of England line
1854–1860South East, South WestN/A

East Midlands

This is a list of all routes that enter the East Midlands region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Buxton line
1863East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Crewe–Derby line1848East Midlands, North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Derwent Valley line
1839–1849East MidlandsN/A
Doncaster–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Glossop line
1844East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Ivanhoe line
1840/1993East MidlandsN/A
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line1832–1849East MidlandsN/A
Northampton loop1881East Midlands, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Nottingham–Grantham line1850East MidlandsN/A
Nottingham–Lincoln line1846East MidlandsN/A
Oakham–Kettering line1879East MidlandsN/A
Poacher Line
1848–1873East MidlandsN/A
Robin Hood Line
1848 East MidlandsN/A
Sheffield–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A

West Midlands

This is a list of all routes that enter the West Midlands region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line1840–1879West MidlandsN/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster line1852–1867West MidlandsN/A
Chase Line
1837–1859
West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Chiltern Main Line
1852–1910London, South East, West MidlandsN/A
Cotswold Line
1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Coventry–Leamington line1851West MidlandsN/A
Coventry–Nuneaton line1850West MidlandsN/A
Crewe–Derby line1848East Midlands, North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Cross-City Line
1837–1876West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Leamington–Stratford line1860West MidlandsN/A
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line1832–1849East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Northampton loop1881East Midlands, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
North Warwickshire Line
1908West MidlandsN/A
Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line1837West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Shrewsbury–Chester line1848North West, West MidlandsN/A
Stafford–Manchester line1848–1887North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stone to Colwich Line1849West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stourbridge Town branch line1879West MidlandsN/A
Trent Valley line
1847West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Walsall–Wolverhampton line1837West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Welsh Marches line
1852–1858North West, West Midlands,
Mid Wales, South Wales		N/A
Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line1848–1849West MidlandsN/A

North East

This is a list of all routes that enter the North East England region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Durham Coast Line
1833–1905North East1,500 V DC OHLE
Esk Valley line
1835North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Tyne Valley line
1834–1837North East, North WestN/A
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line1852North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Tees Valley line
1843–1861North EastN/A

North West

This is a list of all routes that enter the North West England region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Blackpool branch lines
1846–1865North West25 kV AC OHLE
Borderlands line
1887–1896North WestN/A
Buxton line
1863East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Calder Valley line
North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Chester–Manchester line1830–1863North WestN/A
Crewe–Manchester line1841North West25 kV AC OHLE
Cumbrian Coast line
1844–1845North WestN/A
East Lancashire line
1846–1848North WestN/A
Ellesmere Port–Warrington line1863North WestN/A
Furness line
1846–1858North WestN/A
Glossop line
1842–1845East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Hope Valley line
1894North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Huddersfield line
1849North West, Yorkshire and the HumberPlanned
Kirkby branch line
1848North WestN/A
Leeds–Morecambe line1846–1864North West, Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Liverpool–Manchester lines1830–onwardsNorth West25 kV AC OHLE
Liverpool–Wigan line1869–1871North West25 kV AC OHLE
Manchester–Preston line1838–1841North West25 kV AC OHLE
Manchester–Southport lineNorth WestN/A
Mid-Cheshire line
1855–1888North WestN/A
Morecambe branch line
1864North WestN/A
Northern line
1848–1864North West750 V DC Third Rail
Ormskirk branch line
1848North West750 V DC Third Rail
Ribble Valley line
1845–1872North WestN/A
Settle–Carlisle line1875North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Stafford–Manchester line1848North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stockport–Stalybridge lineNorth WestN/A
Styal Line
1909North West25 kV AC OHLE
Tyne Valley line
1834–1837North East, North WestN/A
Windermere branch line
1847North WestProposed
Wirral line
1840–1907North West750 V DC Third Rail

Yorkshire and the Humber

This is a list of all routes that enter the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Airedale line
1846Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Askern branch line
1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Calder Valley line
1840sNorth West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Dearne Valley line
1839-40Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Doncaster–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Esk Valley line
1835-54North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Hallam Line
Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Harrogate line
1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Hope Valley line
1894North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Huddersfield line
1849North West, Yorkshire and the HumberPlanned
Hull to York Line1840Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Leeds–Morecambe line1846-50North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Leeds–Bradford linesYorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line1852North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Penistone Line
1845-50Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Pontefract line
1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Selby Line
1834Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Settle–Carlisle line1875North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Sheffield–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
South Humberside main line
1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Swinton–Doncaster lineSouth YorkshireN/A
Wakefield line
Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Wharfedale line
1865Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Yorkshire Coast Line
1845-46Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
York–Scarborough line1845Yorkshire and the HumberN/A

Scotland

Scotrail Intercity lines

Main lines

NameBetweenOpeningRegionsElectrificationType
CrossrailAbbey Wood and Shenfield to Reading and Heathrow Airport2019London25 kV AC OHLENew Line
Varsity LineBicester Town and Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central2019South East England25 kV AC OHLEReopening